Common Sources of Indoor Air Pollution in your Home or Building

People. 70-90% of what you see floating in a ray of sunshine entering your home is dead human skin flakes. And remember, we can only see about 10% of the airborne pollutants. Dead human skin is a staple of the dust mite diet.

Dust. House dust is a mixture of diverse substances that can cause allergies. House dust is composed of a number of natural substances, including dried food particles, mold spores, pollen, fabric fibers, animal dander, and insect parts, especially those of dust mites and cockroaches. However, particles and debris from dust mites are the major source of allergens in dust. As is the case with other allergens, these particles contain proteins that are small enough to become airborne and inhaled.

Allergens. Pollens, ragweed, and a variety of other allergens find their way into the home from outdoors.

Carpet, Plywood, and other Construction Materials. The “new” smell associated with new carpet, newly painted walls, new home, remodeled room, etc. is actually the out-gassing of the chemical solutions used to treat these products. These are known an VOCs.

Pillows and Blankets. Dust mites comprise over 50% of the weight of the average pillow. Dust mite allergy is an allergic reaction to tiny bugs that commonly live in house dust. Signs of dust mite allergy include sneezing and runny nose. Many people with dust mite allergy also experience signs of asthma, such as wheezing and difficulty breathing.

HVAC Systems. Air ducts serve as a fertile breeding ground for mold spores.

Household Cleaners/Aerosols, Insecticides, Pesticides. We literally poison the air we breathe with chemical fumes and toxins when we use these products.

Moist things or humid environments. Mold spores, bacteria, and mildew thrive in dampened towels, wash cloths, and moist or humid areas of the home. Children in homes with high mold show persistent, cold-like symptoms – 300% more than average.

Pets. Airborne animal and/or pet dander (dried spit from the animal that breaks off the end of their hair and floats in air since they are so small) is a common trigger for allergies and asthma. Plus, the feces from your pet emits added contaminates into the air.

Insects and other Bugs. Insects and bugs feces are a powerful allergen. In a recent extensive study by the New England Journal of Medicine, more than half the homes tested had high levels of cockroaches. Children living in these homes were more than three times as likely to be hospitalized for asthma.

Smoking. Smoking in the home or vehicle leaves the air being breathed dense with over 3600 cancer-causing toxins. These toxins also cling to the clothing we wear, and release themselves when we enter other homes and buildings.

Reducing Indoor Air Pollution

EcoVive provides treatments that can remove these threats from your home. We use a variety of ways to tackle even the worst cases of indoor air pollution in homes. Our Ozone shock treatments are a great way to sanitize your home. We also employ hospitable grade disinfectants, probiotics and enzymes to make homes safe.

Do you have a home that is causing sickness, or asthma, give us a call today to discuss what we can do for you. 616-401-9176

Mold Inspection-Grand Rapids

Do you need a Mold Inspection? The first thing to understand about mold is that there is a little mold everywhere – indoors and outdoors. It’s in the air and can be found on plants, foods, dry leaves, and other organic materials.

It’s very common to find molds in homes and buildings. After all, molds grow naturally indoors and outdoors. Mold spores can enter the home through doorways, windows, and heating and air conditioning systems. Spores also enter the home on animals, clothing, shoes, bags and people.

When mold spores drop where there is excessive moisture in your home, they will grow. Common problem sites include humidifiers, leaky roofs and pipes, overflowing sinks, bath tubs and plant pots, steam from cooking, bathroom exhaust fans vented improperly, or where there has been flooding.

Many of the building materials for homes provide suitable nutrients for mold, helping it to grow. Such materials include paper and paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, wood and wood products, dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation materials, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery.

The Importance of Mold in the Real Estate Market Today

For homeowners, a mold inspection will either put your mind at rest or make you aware of any problems that could cause delays or deal breakers in the sale of your home. A professional mold inspection by EcoVive will give you a signed report before you put the home up for sale. Imagine being able to show a “clean bill of health” to potential buyers that express concerns – they’ll be impressed by your thoroughness and commitment to your home.

For buyers, getting a mold inspection will ensure that you’re not surprised by costly clean up and the potential health hazards of mold. If any mold is found to be present and active in the home, the mold inspection will allow you to ask the seller to do the clean up prior to buying the home

Can My Home Be Tested For Mold?

Yes. We offer thorough mold inspections that involve visual examinations of the most likely areas to harbor mold. We also take air samples indoors and out to determine whether the number of spores inside your home is significantly higher. If the indoor level is higher, it could mean that mold is growing inside your home.

It only takes a small water leak, or even excess humidity, for mold to form in your Grand Rapids home or business. Then, mold can spread quickly through the property in as little as 48 hours. Mold can produce allergens and irritants, and it has the potential to cause other health effects. If you suspect your home or business has a mold problem, call EcoVive today for a Mold Inspection. 616-401-9176

Mold and Mildew Odor

Many people suffer from problems with mold and mildew odor in their homes. In their search for a way to rid the house of this unforgiving and difficult problem millions of dollars are spent and countless chemicals are introduced into their homes. Mold is essentially a fungus and is found in areas where there is little ventilation and a warm, damp surrounding. Mildew is basically mold which has attached itself to some kind of material, mainly fabric and is usually found on carpets, rugs, clothes, towels and linens. Mold and mildew odor is a problem in many households and is difficult to get rid of completely. As well as mold and mildew odor being unpleasant to our senses, it can also be dangerous to people with allergies as it contains irritants and toxins which can be harmful. In most cases of mold and mildew odor, traditional deodorizers and cleaning equipment won’t get rid of it completely, it is important to make sure that all of the molecules and bacteria are removed; the best way to achieve this is by using ozone technology to eliminate mold and mildew completely. Ozone is normal oxygen (O2) that has an extra oxygen atom (O3), but that extra oxygen atom is just along for the ride. It is easily detached and then reattaches to any odor, microbe, fungi, or pollution threat. Oxygen is good at oxidizing (another form of burning) that converts whatever it finds into an oxidized byproduct.

EcoVive is your West Michigan Odor Control specialist that uses Ozone to remove mold and mildew odor. This is not another chemical being introduced into your home, it is a naturally occurring gas that does the work, leaving behind no harmful chemical residue.

If you have mold and mildew odor that need to be taken care of, give us a call 616-401-9176 or visit our website at: eco-vive.com

If your home has had ice dams on the roof this winter you may have mold growth in the attic. Mold growth on the underside of attic sheathing is also one of the most difficult areas to clean due to poor access, tight quarters, lack of flooring, presence of roofing nails and uncomfortable temperature extremes. Mold growth in the attic usually does not impact the quality of air in the home since the natural flow of warm house air is up into the attic space and not the reverse. There are, however, some instances where HVAC systems located in attics have been known to spread mold spores to other areas of the home. In addition, the presence of visible attic mold is enough to derail a house sale.

Specialized remediation methods have been developed with varying success to deal with removal of mold from the attic area. All of these techniques require the use of containment to prevent the spread of bioaerosols and particulates to other areas of the home.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),chemical use to kill molds is generally not recommended. While experts agree that mold should be controlled in the indoor environment, as with other pest problems, the use of toxic materials to manage mold can cause health problems worse than the mold itself, public health advocates warn.

With the use of an Ozone Shock Treatment we kill mold in attics. It is important to understand that while ozone kills mold, it does not “clean” mold. Depending on the location of the mold, killing the mold may only be a partial solution. When touched or inhaled, mold can remain allergenic, pathogenic, or toxigenic, even after being rendered nonviable. Therefore, consideration needs to be given to the location of the contamination, and possibly the type of mold present. Whenever mold is discovered inside a building’s heated envelope, whether viable or nonviable, it should be cleaned or otherwise removed if at all possible.

While it will be debated forever if it is necessary to remove the mold after it has been killed in an unoccupied attic, the main reason it is removed is for aesthetic reasons. While there are many things that can be done to keep mold from growing in attics in Michigan, from proper insulation and venting, there is no 100% guarantee that mold will not at some time show up in the attic. Even after an attic has been treated and cleaned, mold can still return at another time. Water leaks caused by ice dams formed in the winter may cause mold to return.

We suggest having a yearly Ozone treatment of the unoccupied attic space to stop any mold growth.